In January 1967 plans were approved for a group of structures at Belmont Plaza, a site west of the pier on the beach in Belmont Shore. Francis Heusel and Frank Homolka, noted Long Beach architects, and Bole and Wilson, local engineers, designed the complex, which included an Olympic size indoor pool, a community/private event building, and a locker room. The pool was built in anticipation of the 1968 swimming, diving, and water polo trials to pick the United States’ Olympic team. According to the Los Angeles Times, Mark Spitz, Don Schol- lander, and Charles Hickox set men’s records during these trials. During the 1975 Olympic development meet, Shirley Babashoff took first place in the 400 meter freestyle event and in 1976 she broke the re- cord for the women’s 100 meter freestyle competition in the Olympic trial at the Belmont Pool. After the trials, te pool was opened to the public for recreational purposes.

In 2008 the city hired a consultant to make a structural and seismic evaluation of the Bel- mont Plaza Olympic complex and, more recently, in 2012 another study determined that the natatorium might not be reparable after an earthquake measuring five magnitude or higher. This building, which measures 224’x148,’ was constructed with a shear-wall frame, cast in place reinforced concrete columns, and prestressed concrete girders. It has a 23’ high glass curtain wall below a 25’ high precast concrete shear wall. In 1968 this type of construction clearly met the code requirements, but today...Click Here to Read the Full Article.